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[[Skeudenn:Eigg.AnSgurr.Canthusus.jpg|thumb|180px|[[An Sgurr (Eige)|An Sgurr]]]]
[[Skeudenn:Eigg.jpg|right|thumb|Un dañvad eus Eige o sellout trema'n [[douar-bras]].]]
[[Skeudenn:Eigg island.jpg|left|thumb|250px|<Center>Kartenn eus Eigg, e 1892.]] ▼
'''Eige''', pe '(''Eigg''' e saozneg), zo un [[enezennig]] en [[Inizi Gall]] e [[Bro-Skos]], etre [[Anan t-Eilean Sgitheanach]], a zo er c'hreisteiz dezhi, ha ledenez [[Ardnamurchan|Àird nam Murchan]]. 6 devezh-arat zo enni, ha 67 den zo o chom eno hervez niveradeg 2001<ref>2001 UK Census per [[List of islands of Scotland]]</ref><ref>Haswell-Smith, Hamish. (2004) ''The Scottish Islands''. Edinburgh. Canongate.</ref><ref>[http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey]</ref>.
== Douaroniezh ==
9 km hed ha 5 km eus an hanternoz d'ar c'hreisteiz, ha 5 km led eus ar retersav-heol d'ar c'hornôghuzh-heol a ra Enez Eigg. Eil brasañ enezenn ar [[Small Isles]] eo war-lerc'h [[Rùm]].
▲[[Skeudenn:Eigg island.jpg|left|thumb|250px|<Center>Kartenn eus Eigg, e 1892.]]
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== Istor ==
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[[Bronze Age]] and [[Iron Age]] inhabitants have left their mark on Eigg. The [[monastery]] at Kildonan was founded by an Irish missionary, [[Donnán of Eigg|St. Donnan]]. He and his monks were massacred in 617 by the local [[Picts|Pictish]] Queen. In medieval times the island was held by [[Clan Donald|Ranald MacDonald]]. A lengthy feud with the [[Clan MacLeod|MacLeods]] led to the massacre of the island's entire population in the late 16th century. The MacLeods searched the island for 3-5 days, the precise length unknown, and left when they could not find the inhabitants. As their ships sailed away, a McDonald scout was spotted above a cave, watching the ships. The MacLeods turned back to Eigg, and followed his tracks back into the cave they had taken refuge in on the south coast.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} They were suffocated by a fire lit at the entrance.
By the 19th century, the island had a population of 500, producing [[potato]]es, [[oats]], [[cattle]] and [[kelp]]. When [[sheep]] farming became more profitable than any alternative, land was [[Highland Clearances|cleared]] by compulsory emigration - in 1853 the whole of the village of [[Gruilin]], fourteen families, was forced to leave.
The Scottish [[geologist]] and writer [[Hugh Miller]] visited the island in the 1840s and wrote a long and detailed account of his explorations in his book ''The Cruise of the Betsey'' published in 1858. The book includes a description of his visit to the Cave of Frances ''(Uamh Fhraing)'' in which the whole population of the island had been smoked to death by McLeods from the [[Isle of Skye|Skye]] some hundred years earlier. Miller was a self-taught geologist; so the book contains detailed observations of the [[geology]] of the island, including the [[An Sgurr (Eigg)|Scuir]] and the [[singing sand]]s. He describes the islanders of Eigg as ''"an active, middle-sized race, with well-developed heads, acute intellects, and singularly warm feelings"''.
==Recent events==
After decades of problems with absentee landlords, the island was bought in 1997 by the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust, a partnership between the residents of Eigg, the [[Highland Council area|Highland Council]], and the [[Scottish Wildlife Trust]]. The story of this community buy-out is told in [[Alastair McIntosh|Alastair McIntosh's]] book ''Soil and Soul: People Versus Corporate Power'' published in 2001. At the time, the population was around 60; in 2005 it was 87.
The ceremony to mark the handover to community ownership took place a few weeks after the 1997 General Election and was attended by the [[Scottish Office]] Minister, [[Brian Wilson (politician)|Brian Wilson]], a long-standing advocate of land reform. He used the occasion to announce the formation of a Community Land Unit within [[Highlands and Islands Enterprise]] which would in future support further land buy-outs in the region.
The first major project of the Heritage Trust was An Laimhrig, a new building near the jetty to house the island's shop and [[Post Office Limited|Post Office]], a [[Tea room|tearoom]], craft shop, toilet and shower facilities.
There is a sheltered anchorage for boats at [[Galmisdale]] in the south of the island. In 2004 the old jetty was extended to allow a [[RORO|roll-on roll-off]] [[ferry]] to [[Ferry slip|dock]]. The [[Caledonian MacBrayne]] ferry [[MV Lochnevis|Lochnevis]] sails a circular route from [[Mallaig]] around the four "''Small Isles''" - Eigg, [[Canna, Scotland|Canna]], [[Rùm]] and [[Muck, Scotland|Muck]]. There is also a small passenger ferry, the [http://www.arisaig.co.uk M V Sheerwater] which operates between Eigg and [[Arisaig]] on the mainland.
===Electrification project===
The next major project of the Heritage Trust was to enable the provision of a [[Electric power transmission|mains electricity grid]], powered from renewable sources. Previously, the island was not served by mains electricity and individual [[Croft (land)|crofthouses]] had [[Wind generator|wind]], [[Hydroelectricity|hydro]] or diesel generators and the aim of the project is to develop an electricity supply that is environmentally and economically sustainable.
The new system incorporates a 9.9 kWp PV system, three hydro generation systems (totalling 112 kW) and a 24 kW wind farm supported by stand-by diesel generation and batteries to guarantee continuous availability of power. A load management system has been installed to provide optimal use of the renewables. This combination of solar, wind and hydro power should provide a network that is self sufficient and powered 98% from renewable sources. The system was switched on, on [[1 February]] [[2008]].<ref> Ross, John ([[1 February]] [[2008]]) [http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Island-finally-turns-on-to.3734487.jp "Island finally turns on to green mains Eigg-tricity"]. Edinburgh. ''The Scotsman''. Retrieved [[2 December]] [[2008]]</ref>
The Heritage Trust has formed a company, Eigg Electric Ltd, to operate the new a £1.6 million network, which has been part funded by the [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)|National Lottery]] and the [[Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company]].<ref>[http://www.windandsun.co.uk/projects_eigg.htm "Isle of Eigg, Inner Hebrides, Scotland - 2007"] Wind and Sun Ltd. Retrieved [[20 September]] [[2007]].</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4440896.stm "Island energised by lottery cash"] BBC.co.uk. Retrieved [[20 September]] [[2007]].</ref>
==Geography==
The main settlement on Eigg is Cleadale, a fertile coastal plain in the north west. It is known for its [[quartz]] [[beach]], called the "''singing sands''" on account of the squeaking noise it makes if walked on when dry.
The centre of the island is a [[moorland]] [[plateau]], rising to 393 metres (1,289 ft) at [[An Sgurr (Eigg)|An Sgurr]], a dramatic stump of [[pitchstone]], sheer on three sides. Walkers who complete the easy scramble to the top in good weather are rewarded with spectacular views all round, of [[Isle of Mull|Mull]], [[Coll]], [[Muck, Scotland|Muck]], the [[Outer Hebrides]], [[Rùm]], [[Isle of Skye|Skye]], and the mountains of [[Lochaber]] on the mainland.
==Wildlife==
The island has breeding populations of various raptors: [[Golden Eagle]], [[Common Buzzard|Buzzard]], [[Peregrine Falcon]], [[Common Kestrel|Kestrel]], [[Hen Harrier]] and [[Short-eared Owl|Short]] and [[Long-eared Owl]]. [[Great Northern Diver]] and [[Jack Snipe]] are winter visitors, and in summer [[Common Cuckoo|Cuckoo]], [[Whinchat]], [[Whitethroat]] and [[Twite]] breed on the island.<ref>"Eigg-ceptional summer". ''Scottish Wildlife'' (November 2007) No. 63 page 4.</ref><ref>[http://www.isleofeigg.org/welcome/welcome_frame.htm "Bird watching on Eigg"] Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust. Retrieved [[27 December]] [[2007]].</ref>
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== Evned ==
Ur 130 a spesadoù [[evn]]ed zo en enezenn, darn anezho zo evned-preizh., en o zouez an [[erer]].
== Liammoù diavaez ==
* {{en}} [http://www.isleofeigg.org/ The islandLec'shienn an websiteenez]
* {{en}} [http://www.isleofeigg.org/nature/geology.htm Geology ofDouarouriezh Eigg]
* {{en}} [[BBC Radio 4]] - [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/opencountry_20020907.shtml Open Country]
* {{en}} [http://petemarshall.com/incomers/ Levr diwar-benn an enez ha luc'hskeudennoù]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A7066091 BBC Action Network - My story: Bringing power to the people]
* {{en}} [http://gerald-massey.org.uk/miller/b_betsey.htm The Cruise of the Betsey]- AccountRentañ-kont ofbeaj Miller 's voyage. ▼* [http://petemarshall.com/incomers/ Book about the role of incomers on the island and photogallery]
▲* [http://gerald-massey.org.uk/miller/b_betsey.htm The Cruise of the Betsey]- Account of Miller's voyage.
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